Combined ruler



(No Model.)

A. G. MERRIMAN. COMBINED RULER, INK ERASEB, AND PAPER OUTTER.

No. 432,682. Patented July 22, 1890;

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ARTHUR C. MERRIMAN, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED RULER, INK-ERASER, AND PAPER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 482,632, dated July 22, 1890.

Application filed June 11, 1890. Serial No. 355,002. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR O. MERRIMAN, of L601Tll11St6l,lll the county of \Vorcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Rulers, I11k-Erasers, Burnishers, Paper- Cutters, &c., of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which said invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device; Fig. 2, a plan of the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, the device being represented in use as a paper-cutter, and Fig. 3, an end elevation.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to a measuring-ruler provided with anink-eraser, paper burnisher and cutter, and pencil-mark eraser; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, the object being to produce a simpler, cheaper, and more effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.

The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all conversant with such matters from the following explanation.

In the drawings, Adesignates the ruler considered as a whole. The ruler is provided with a straight-edge b, in which a longitudinal groove cl is formed, said edge being inclined downward to prevent contact with the implement when marking-fluid is used. The ruler is socketed or chambered horizontally at f in the groove cl, and a cutting-blade g is pivoted at h in said chamber. Said blade is provided with a curved slot 7), through which a pin j projects, acting as a stop to determine the movement of said blade. The blade is also provided with a thumb-slot or groove in, and the body of the ruler is cut away at m to expose said slot when the blade is closed. One end of the body of the ruler is curved vertically at 19, said curved edge forming a burnishing-surface for polishing the paper after ink-marks have been erased. The opposite end of the ruler is provided with a curved boss or projection q, the face of which is on an arc of the same circle as the burnisher p. The body is cut in at r and a sheet of sand-paper, emery-paper, or similar material 25 is glued to the face of the boss, the ends of said paper being turned slightly into the slots 9'. The boss and covering thus arranged form an eraser for removing ink-marks. The upper face of the ruler is divided by spacelines 1; in the ordinary manner of measuringrulers.

In the burnishing end of the ruler-body a hemispherical block of erasive rubber is secured.

In the use of my improvement, the blade g being closed or concealed in the chamber f, the ruler may be employed for measuring or as a straight-edge in the ordinary manner. The eraser t is employed in the usual manner of ink-erasers, and as the covcring'thereof wears away it may readily be replaced. The burnishing-surfaee1) is used to smooth the paper after having been roughened by the eraser t, and the rubber-w is employed in the ordinary manner of erasive rubber. By opening the blade which is held at an angle of about forty-five degrees to the edge Z) by the stop j, the device may be used as a papercutter orletter-opener. The edge of the sheet to be out being inserted in the groove (Z, is forced against the cutting-edge of the blade g, said groove serving to direct the letter or sheet B and prevent the knife from accident ally cutting said sheet outside the line of the crease in a manner which will be readily understood without a more explicit description.

Having thus explained my invention, what I claim is- 1. A ruler having a longitudinally-grooved and vertically-inclined straight or measuring edge, one end of the body of said ruler being curved to form a burnishing-surface and the opposite end provided with a curved boss or projection having an erasive surface, sub stantially as described.

2. A ruler having a longitudinally-grooved straight or measuring edge and a horizontal chamber opening into said groove in combination with a cutting-blade pivoted in said chamber, substantially as described.

3. A ruler having a longitudinally-grooved straight or measuring edge an d provided with a curved end forming a buwishing-surface, the opposite end being curved and covered with an erasive material, in combination with a cutting-blade pivoted in a chamber opening in said groove, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of inanufactu re, a ruler provided with a longitudinally grooved straight or measuring edge and having one of its ends curved to form a burnishing-surface, the opposite end being provided with a boss or projection having a curved surface covered with erasive material and an erasive rubbersecured in the upper face of said ruler at its burnishing end, substantially as described.

5. The ruler A, provided with the straight said boss, and the blade g, pivoted in said chamber, all being arranged to operate substantially as described.

6. The ruler A, provided with the grooved edges Z) and chamber f, in combination with the blade 9, pivoted in said chamber and provided with the slot 11, and the pin 7',projecting through said slot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ARTHUR O. MERRIMAN.

Witnesses:

\VADE. H. J EWETT, ROBERT L. CARTER. 

